Today we use the terms America and the United States as synonyms. The official name of the country is The United States of America. But prompted by a question on another forum, wherein an author writing in 1883 referred to "... America, and the United States ...", I am curious as to whether the terms have always been precise synonyms.

Now, the question in this case may be put down simply to bad writing. But in 1883 the United States of America included states and territories (as it does today). Would the term America have been at that time a larger concept, not precisely synonymous with the United States? In the Civil War did America mean anything that could be pinned down precisely, or did everything depend on the viewpoint of the speaker?

America is a continent, The United States of America a country. It is important to note that the USA is not the only United States in America. The official name of Mexico is United Mexican States.
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Fabián H. jr.Jan 25 '12 at 14:36

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@fabianhjr: "North America" is a continent. "The Americas" refers to countries on the continent or both North and South America. But "America" refers to "The United States."
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RobustoJan 25 '12 at 15:26

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Yes, it did depend on the viewpoint of the speaker. I think you will get better answers on English.SE than hyere
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DVKJan 25 '12 at 19:10

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@Lohoris: I didn't ask it on ELU because it would very likely be closed as off-topic or too narrow, since it is not really a question about language per se, but about the historical use of two specific terms as they apply to a particular country.
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RobustoJan 26 '12 at 19:53

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I believe in the most general sense "America" means the continent of America which includes both North and South America. But what is colloquially referred to as "America" (mostly by "Americans") is widely regarded as just the United States of America. The colloquial usage excludes Puerto Rico (do you consider Puerto Rico America?) and our neighbour Canada (though Canada resides geographically on the same Continent). Simply for the sake of brevity I believe in this sense America is assumed to be JUST the United States.

As you say, the term could be used expansively. But I think it does depend on the viewpoint of the speaker. In numerous primary sources concerning the period before and around the American Revolution, the term "American" is used by both Colonists and British ministers to refer specifically to the Original Thirteen colonies and NOT of the various territories also associated with it. (i.e. Once again, Canada) For the most part then I would say its safe to assume that "America" means the contiguous United States (inclusion of Hawaii and Alaska is again subject to the viewpoint of the speaker)

Is there anything specific documentation where its usage can be exemplary or that you have questions about?

Followup:

Just thought I would share this tid bit in a book I'm writing for my Senior Thesis which gives a bit of evidence that historians see "America" as the United States of America. "The English ministers who began tightening the screws on American smugglers in 1760 and who hoped to make the Americans pay a share of imperial burdens did not know the people they were dealing with..." From Robert Middlekauf "The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution 1763 - 1789". p. 49.

But how did other colonial countries - like Spain or France - refer to their colonies and colonists? I wouldn't be surprised if they too spoke of "America" and "Americans". But of course for the British, the 13 colonies where their Americans...
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Baard KopperudMay 22 '13 at 19:48

From a British perspective, America is not used exclusively as a synonym for the USA. I have several times encountered the conversation:

"Where are you from"

"America."

"Oh cool. Which country."

"The United States."

Another example would be a recent BBC program I watched talking about geography in Iceland. The presenter was standing on the fault line there and said, "My left foot is in America and my right in Europe." In this example America was distinctly not a synonym for the USA.

Yet another case, when describing the location of a country such as Canada or Mexico, a British person would describe them as being in America. Obviously not the USA but a greater America.

The plural form, mentioned in another answer, "Americas", is usually used to describe locations outside of North America such as Brazil, Jamaica, Columbia.

Yes, except when certain unpleasant demonstrators yell "Death to America" it is pretty clear they are not talking about Canada or Mexico.
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RobustoMar 15 '12 at 15:10

+1 Being from the USA, it is really strange to hear Canadians+Mexicans being referred to as Americans. It takes some getting used to. But I've never heard of South Americans being called Americans.
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JayMar 15 '12 at 22:04

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@Robusto When demonstrators yell "Death to America", they are usually not shouting in English so the confusion over the name doesn't apply.
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Rincewind42Mar 16 '12 at 4:14

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@Rincewind42: In Arabic as spoken in the Palestinian territories, when they shout "Death to America" the word "America" is used (with Arabic pronunciation of course). So no matter what you think "America" means, they are in fact shouting "Death to America".
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dotancohenJul 26 '12 at 20:07

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and they're given those words by US "aid workers" and "peace activists" who have the mistaken worldview that the US and America are one and the same thing.
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jwentingFeb 21 '13 at 8:22

From a purely historical perspective, I believe the term "America" has generally been applied only to the "United States of America". I have seen instances where the collective countries of Mexico, US, and Canada have been referred to as "the Americas" (note the plural). However, I don't believe there has ever been an instance where the term "America" by itself has ever been used to refer specifically to any other country exclusively.

Thanks, but that's not really what I'm asking. I'm trying to find out whether "America" was ever taken to mean the actual states plus any of its possessions (such as territories), as distinct from just "the United States." I want to know if "America" and "the United States" were ever considered anything but identical sets of components.
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RobustoJan 26 '12 at 19:50

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I see what you are saying. I can't think of any instance where "America" would be used to include any territories. I believe it has always referred to the continental portion of the US. For example, I can't envision any situation where the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico would either one be referred to as "America" or even as part of "America".
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Steven Drennon♦Jan 26 '12 at 21:10

@Robusto "America" is generally considered to be synonymous with the "United States". The United States is a nation, not a geographic description. It sounds like you're trying to say that "America" is analogous to "Great Britain" with respect to the "United Kingdom". That just isn't the case.
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duffbeer703Jan 30 '12 at 16:29

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@duffbeer703: Did you read the second paragraph of my question? It will show you that 1) I am not asking about any current definition (hence asking this on History.SE), and 2) if Americans writing during the era I'm interested in ever thought there was a difference in meaning.
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RobustoJan 30 '12 at 16:50

To be honest, at first I was upset with your question. I mean, every child in Poland is taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America. How would it be possible if America would be precisely synonymous with United States, as it was written by you. Also my Brasilian friend Rodrigo, who stays at my place for few days, asked me to write it here that he defines himself as an American.

But indeed, I cannot deny that there are plenties of situations where people use words such as America or American speaking particularly about United States and Polish language dictionaries mention it as one of common use of those words or even the main one.

I've started to check it by myself. There's no mention of Americans in Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution. But I've found it in few first inaugural speeches of US Presidents.

(...) but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the
Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to
favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in
perfect tranquillity (...)

(...) When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to
express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor,
and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the peopleof united America. (...)

When it was first perceived, in early times, that no middle course for
America remained between unlimited submission to a foreign legislature
and a total independence of its claims (...)

(...) In this dangerous crisis the people of America were not abandoned by
their usual good sense, presence of mind, resolution, or integrity. (...)

(...) Such is the amiable and interesting system of government (and such are
some of the abuses to which it may be exposed) which the people of
America have exhibited to the admiration and anxiety of the wise and
virtuous of all nations (...)

(...) if, while the conscious honor and integrity of the people of America
and the internal sentiment of their own power and energies must be
preserved (...)

(...) if an unshaken confidence in the honor, spirit, and resources of the
American people, on which I have so often hazarded my all and never
been deceived (...)

(...) With this great example before me, with the sense and spirit, the
faith and honor, the duty and interest, of the same American people
pledged to support the Constitution of the United States (...)

Finally, the first mention of the word "American" as a synonym to citizen of United States, I've found in:

(...) The remaining revenue on the consumption of foreign articles is paid
chiefly by those who can afford to add foreign luxuries to domestic
comforts, being collected on our seaboard and frontiers only, and
incorporated with the transactions of our mercantile citizens, it may
be the pleasure and the pride of an American to ask, What farmer,
what mechanic, what laborer ever sees a taxgatherer of the United
States? (...)